Hajime collapsed before their eyes.
""Hajime!""
Shuu and Sumire spontaneously rushed toward him seeing that scene.
They kneeled beside him and reached out their hand, but those hands passed
through their son's body and wandered in empty air.
"Tou-san, Kaa-san. I'm over here."
Hajime approached Shuu and Sumire while smiling wryly. Yes, the real
Hajime was.
The two gasped and turned their gaze. They saw the figure of their son
holding up Myuu there and let out a long sigh in relieve. And then, they
made a similar wry smile.
At the same time, before their eyes the past Hajime who was wounded all
over melted into thin air and vanished.
This place was the true Orcus Great Dungeon――floor 100. The final
destination of the abyss, the place where the hideout of Oscar Orcus was
located, and then, the location where the strongest guardian the Hydra was
lying in wait.
Until now Hajime and co were watching the grand last boss fight that
Hajime and Yue got into.
Even though they understood that it was nothing more than projection, it
was a fight for survival with impact that couldn't be compared with a mere
3D movie.
The hydra's roar, the fatal breath attack, the counterattack using magic and
gunshot…
And then, Hajime who covered Yue and got swallowed by the fatal light.
His right eye was evaporated, a part of his body was carbonized, and he
pitched forward falling as though he had no strength left.
In order to protect Hajime, Yue dashed forward holding Donner with one
hand in her condition that only had meager magic power.
The scene was a storm of light bullets trampling through space like a
meteor shower couldn't help made the parents but stiffen up even though
they knew that it was just a projection. In fact, if Kaoruko and Akiko didn't
receive magic that increased their mental resistance from Tio, they would
have fainted more than dozens of times about now.
The sight of those light bullets hitting Yue hard until her body became
tattered was something hard to believe looking at her current invincible
queen like self.
At the same time, her figure that was gritting her teeth without taking even
a single step back no matter what, risking her life in order to protect Hajime
looked so noble it shook them. Sumire and Shuu too, they couldn't help but
hugging Yue tightly while watching the projection.
Before long the fatal light of judgment was fired. Before that attack that
was unleashed in order to annihilate the insolent intruder, Yue was staring
straight ahead, however…
Hajime revived in a hair's breadth.
Everyone spontaneously cheered "Oo!". But, they immediately
understood from looking. That Hajime didn't revive or anything. It was
only his guts supporting him. Hajime's figure that was visibly in appalling
state vividly displayed that he almost wasn't even healed at all.
However, from there it was a dramatic development. It was overwhelming,
astounding, and miraculous. It was like a tale of a legend.
The two nestling close to each other within the meteor shower was slipping
through as though they were dancing. The light of annihilation was already
like it was nothing more than a splendorous lighting illuminating the two.
Running through the air, smashing the ceiling and dropping it, transmuting
an improvised smelting furnace. The blue flame of demise was unleashed
with harmonized beat of the two.
The scream of death agony of the last guardian echoed.
When everything was over, Shuu and other parents, no, even Shia and the
others who were watching that sublime scene that could be mistaken as a
part of a myth forgot to even breath due to the intense deep emotion they
couldn't describe with words inside them.
Like that, when Hajime said "I'm spent" and fell flat, all of them finally
returned to their senses.
"Amazing right?"
Hajime's words that sounded somewhat elated echoed.
Shuu and Sumire's eyes turned wide hearing that.
If pushed to say, all this time Hajime had no motivation in showing his past
projection all this time, but now he wasn't even really alluding anything
like "It's just something of the past" about this scene, instead he looked
proud… no, just from looking it could be seen that he was being smug.
In the middle, Myuu who was being hugged clung to Hajime tightly, so half
of his face was covered by the little girl, but the other half of his face was
clearly showing his smugness.
"That's unusual, for you to make such self-satisfied look when it's not
about your invention."
"Because it was that kind of deadly battle… The cheat recovery item that
was the god water, a weapon that can fire excessive fire power regardless of
the state of the user, and then a partner with cheat-like magic ability. I
wouldn't be able to survive if even a single one of those was missing. It was
a battle that was literally putting up everything I and Yue had."
In a sense, perhaps it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that everything
began from this victory.
"Above all else, my partner did her best here. The victory of this battle,
well, there isn't any need to be humble about it. It's my and
Yue's――pride."
Saying that, Hajime gently patted the head of Yue who had come to his side
unnoticed. Yue's expression became loose and soft, as though a voice
"funi~" would leak out from her mouth somehow.
Shuu muttered "Is that so…" while narrowing his eyes from the dazzling
sight, while Sumire too was saying "I see" with a gentle smile.
"Even so, that was truly intense Goshujin-sama."
"Yes… it far surpassed my imagination."
Tio and Shizuku's words served as the beginning. After them the other
people also started saying their impression.
The parents couldn't hide their excitement, while Shia and others were
oozing out some envy and admiration. Shia alone was knocking her fist
together while saying "I want a one-on-one fight. How far I can go in a
handicap battle using only my fist, I wish to test myself desuu! Won't the
monster pop up again?" with her rabbit ears shaking wildly.
The wild rabbit couldn't stop herself from swinging her fist after knowing
there was such a formidable enemy.
The hopeless rabbit of the past who wasn't good with strife… had died!
"Now that she said it, Hajime. The monsters of the labyrinth can pop up
again right? It looks like the hydra doesn't come out though…"
"Aah, perhaps because it's the last boss. It won't pop up when I or Yue are
here."
'I see, so if I'm alone I'll be able to have at it with that guy then!' the
fighting god rabbit said with her rabbit ears swinging wildly. Leaving the
rabbit aside, Tomoichi was turning his gaze to deeper inside with shining
eyes.
"So Hajime-kun, the hideout is behind that splendid door?"
"Yes, that's right. How about we go there right away?"
For Tomoichi, it seemed that this last boss room was actually really
interesting and attracted his attention.
The pillars in the pillared corridor had splendid engraving applied to every
single of them, displaying a solemn atmosphere. The double-leafed door
standing at the inner part itself was also a work of art. In that case, the
hideout was surely a place that would charm the heart of an architect
without a doubt, Tomoichi thought.
By the way, it seemed regeneration magic was applied to this place, so the
trace of the fierce battle had been automatically fixed. In a sense, this large
space itself could be called an artifact that possessed automatic recovery
function. It could be perceived clearly that Oscar's skill was godly.
"…Nn, before that, please watch the training scene of Hajime without fail."
This room after the battle versus the Hydra became a good training place
for Hajime and Yue during the two months after the dungeon conquering.
It seemed that Yue wished to show everyone that the current Hajime's
fighting ability and precise shooting that made everyone shudder weren't
something that were easily obtained. She wished to show Hajime's effort
here.
Tomoichi said "Hmph… very well, let me take a look of it" while he sent
the gaze of "evaluation of worthiness to become son-in-law of who knows
how many times it is" toward Hajime. He received an elbow on his side
from Kaori.
"Actually I'm really interested. That shooting skill isn't normal. I'm
curious what kind of training he did to learn it."
"His martial art too. It's not systematic but, it has a really rational
movement… I understand that it's something cultivated in real battle but, as
expected, I'm also extremely curious at his training too."
It seemed that this was an extremely fascinating event for Shuuzou and
Koichi. The eyes of the two were shining blazingly. Next they moved
forward in order to secure the front seat with rough breathing. They
received a strike from the back of Shizuku's katana.
"…Nn. Then… around here I think?"
Yue muttered while at the same time she adjusted the time axis and snapped
her finger.
What was projected was the firefight between Yue and Hajime.
From what they could see, Hajime was exhausted from excessive training
while Yue was looking worried. Even so, Hajime said that there was no
meaning in training that wasn't surpassing the limit and he asked Yue to be
his opponent.
Yue nodded to respond to Hajime's determination. Hajime yelled to her.
――'Now, no need to hold back. Come! Magic cheat!'
――'Nn-. Eat this, the violence of quantity!'
It was the violence of quantity. It was flame bullets in number that covered
the sky. And then, for some reason the bullets were heart shaped. Yue-sama,
seeing the heart shaped fire bullets got their magic core fired through and
dispersed, her chest tightened *kyu-!* and she prattled something like "I
was shot through".
Her feeling toward Hajime, was 3000 Celsius♡
Something like that. In addition, it was a tyrannical number that showed no
end in sight.
"Yue-chan… Okaa-san, doesn't hate you okay?"
"Tsk-…"
"Yue-san…"
"As to be expected from thee, Yue."
Gazes that were filled with exasperation stabbed Yue. There was just a
single person clicking her tongue.
"…Nn-. I made a slight mistake."
It seemed she mistook the time axis. She tried to show the training in a
different time axis while feeling slightly flustered but…
Putting aside Yue's behavior, the unfolding scene was intense. The storm of
magic bullet that even resembled the meteor shower of light bullet before
this was shot through by the two handguns Hajime wielded. He continued
to stave off the attack just barely.
Concentration power to the degree that made his speech became halting.
Super high speed midair reload using super fast gun spin. Precise sniping
that was like aiming at the approaching grains of rice which made the heart
of the spectators skipped――firing through the magic's core.
Like that…
――'Then, itadakimasu'
――'Wai-, sto-, aaa—–!!'
Hajime-san who was unable to resist was overcame, or rather he was
pushed down and devoured deliciously――
"Disintegration-"
The past projection was disintegrated along with the magic power and it
dispersed.
"Yue you pervert! Saying it's a training while doing such envio――impure
act! Unbelievable, completely unbelievable! What's more, to think that you
would assault Hajime-kun who was completely exhausted and couldn't
move, how envi――terrible!"
"Kaori, your real thought"
Just as Shizuku pointed out, Kaori-san, her real thought was completely
leaking out. She was slightly drooling. Tomoichi san was looking at
faraway. It seemed that he decided that he didn't see anything.
"…Nn, I'm sorry. Assaulting Hajime became a daily occurrence so"
'That ain't any excuse at all… ' Everyone thought. And then, the male
faction thought "So he was assaulted routinely…" and looked at Hajime
with a complicated expression. Hajime threw his sight to really faraway.
Like this and that, for a while they watched Hajime who trained until he
collapsed every time, Yue who would nurse Hajime who became unable to
move in various senses, and Kaori who would go 'Disintegrate-' every time
the nursing looked like it would become R-rated.
By the time Shuu and others started to show comprehending expression of
Hajime's current strength seeing how he continued to train absurdly, the
flirting showtraining show ended and the group finally stepped inside the
hideout.
"This place… is it underground here?"
The one who unconsciously muttered that was Tomoichi who was looking
forward to it the most. It seemed that the whole group had the same feeling
like that leaked out sentiment.
Spacious area, artificial sun shining at the ceiling, one side of the walls
inside became a waterfall, there was also a river and also fruit trees and
vegetable field.
And then, a three storey mansion that looked like it was created by directly
scraping off the rock wall was being illuminated by the artificial sun,
showing its white wall gorgeously.
"The sun will become like a moon when night comes. By putting this
artificial sun into practical use, I created the sun convergence laser
weapon――Hyperion."
"…Hajime-kun. As an adult, I think there is something that I should say to
you who thought of a mass destruction weapon when seeing a sun of
blessing but… sorry. I cannot find any word."
"No, Tomoichi-san, even if you apologize to me with that kind of creeped
out face…"
"Papaa–! Myuu also want a sun as present for Myuu's next birthday nano!"
"No, Myuu. Even if you begged me with such smile that is like a sun…"
Although, Myuu was also a girl at that age. Perhaps she would need a
weapon soon…
Putting aside the hopeless Hajime papa who was pondering such thing, Yue
took the initiative to act as guide.
"…Right, everyone. This is the residence of me and Hajime in Tortus. This
is our love nest."
"This is Oscar Orcus-san's hideout isn't it!"
'Aa?' 'Oo?' Yue-sama and Kaori-chan glared at each other. This was a
scene where anyone would definitely want Self Restraint-kun to put censor
on the face of the two. That was just how terrible the two were making the
expression that beautiful girl shouldn't show.
'Okay okay, break it out you two~', Shia & Shizuku separated the two.
While that was going on, Hajime invited the parents inside the mansion. At
the end of the line Yue and Kaori were being dragged by their respective
best friend.
Tomoichi let out a long sigh.
"How beautiful… What's more, to think that the building doesn't have any
joining point."
"Oscar was a transmutation master like me. This residence was also created
using transmutation, so it's style is very different from a normal building."
Tomoichi was earnestly letting out sigh of admiration seeing the strange
architecture style that he had never seen before. His eyes were sparkling
bright, like a child that was visiting an amusement park for the first time.
Kaoruko was watching her husband who was like that with a warm gaze.
After that, Hajime showed around the living space and workshop, the
treasure warehouse where many of Oscar's creation were still left behind,
and the site of the storage place of the "Oscar's prototype – succeeded by
Hajime" maid golem that was burned and destroyed by Yue in the past.
There were only novel things inside. The parents were excited from start to
finish.
Especially when it was times like when they found "Prototype – Dragon
Killing Sword" (Named by Oscar) in the treasure warehouse, all the men
went into festive atmosphere where they all tried swinging it.
By the way, for some reason the one who handled and looked the best with
it was Kirino-okaasan.
"And then this place here… it's where we obtained the first age of god
magic and learned the truth of this world."
After opening the thick door at the third floor and entering inside, it was the
room where the magic circle for inheriting age of god magic was inscribed.
Hajime showed a thinking gesture for a bit. Shuu asked him while his eyes
were shining seeing the magic circle.
"Hm? What's the matter Hajime?"
"…Aah, I'm thinking that I might as well introduce everyone."
"Introduce? Who do you mean?"
"Of course, I mean the liberator who was the creator of this great labyrinth.
The extraordinary transmutation master――Oscar Orcus."
Saying that, Hajime sent an eye signal to Yue.
Right after that, a silhouette emerged in front of the chair placed at the back
of the room. A black clothed youth――Oscar.
[You did well overcoming the trial and arriving here. My name is Oscar
Orcus. The person who created this great labyrinth. Perhaps you will
understand if I say that I'm a rebel?]
The entrance of the intellectual looking young man wearing glasses with his
black hair tied behind his neck gathered the attention of all the parents who
were curiously looking around inside the room.
"It's the recording medium Oscar left behind. It's something like his last
will. When entering the magic circle after clearing the trial, he will show his
figure to the dungeon conqueror. Right now it's just a past projection
though."
Even while Hajime was giving explanation, Oscar was continuing his talk
with deep intellect and firm will behind his eyes.
The truth of the world, the path they had taken, and then their wish.
"…They were, unable to win against the god. But, they didn't lose the
battle."
Yue talked with narrowed eyes. Unusually a deep respect could be seen in
her eyes. The parents felt a bit surprised at that. Someone who Yue
genuinely and deeply respected from the heart was extremely few.
Kaori formed her words after her.
"They themselves were no good. But, they didn't give up the future.
Believing that someday people who will inherit their power will appear,
they vanished to the corner of the world. They even parted from their
comrades."
"That became our strength. Kaori was able to survive was also thanks to
what they had left behind."
With deep emotion Shizuku let out her words tremblingly filled with deep
thought of gratitude. Aiko also spoke with a voice that was filled with
similar deep gratitude.
"Everyone was able to return to Japan was also thanks to them leaving
behind their strength."
"Truly, they art worthy to be described as brilliant. Even in the long history
of the dragon race, there were none who persisted in such firm and striking
way of life like them."
Tio closed her eyes as though praying for the dead's happiness in the next
world and she silently gifted them with the greatest eulogy.
Shia lowered her rabbit ears solemnly and opened her mouth.
"Someone like Miledy-san was seriously annoying, but she even turned
into a golem and continued to live… a thousand years, ten thousand years?
Throughout a long period of time that no one know about, by herself
alone… she was annoying but, she helped up, saved the world, and died a
noble death."
"…Nn. She went out with a smile. She was an annoying person but, she
was a strong person who was worthy of admiration."
"O, oi. Shia, Yue. You don't need to keep saying annoying every time… no,
she was really annoying just as you said but…"
Usually Hajime would deliberately not read the atmosphere, but now that
he was reading the atmosphere for a bit he was making that kind of
statement, though naturally he was ignored.
[I pray that from here on you will live under free will.]
Oscar finished with that and vanished.
A tranquil atmosphere silently filled the room.
A beat later, Shuu and Sumire came forward. Tomoichi and others also
came forward as though they understood what they were going to do.
All the parents put their hands together before the place where Oscar was
standing and prayed silently. Their prayer was filled with gratitude and
respect, and various other thoughts.
――'Nn. What to do?'
――'Hm? Nothing particular. In the first place, we were summoned by the
god as he pleased and got told to go to war. That god is nothing but trouble.
I don't give a damn what will happen to this world.'
Everyone went "Hm?" hearing that conversation. Hajime and Yue leaked
out their voice "… ah".
――'Yue, are you bothered about it?'
――'My place is right here… I don't care of anything else'
After the last will of a deceased person, what's more it was the last will of a
great person, for some reason a pink colored space was formed. Kaori's
eyes turned hollow.
Not just the gaze of the parents, even the gaze of Shia and others toward
Hajime and Yue became complicated.
Yue tried to end the projection right away, but Kaori took it over in the
middle. Yue tried to protest "What are you doing!" , but before she could,
――'Aa~, for now, this place is already ours, let's clean up that corpse'
――'Nn. Fertilizer for the field'
Next, Hajime-san took the ring that was the proof of conquering the
dungeon from Oscar's finger.
They had conquered the dungeon so it was only natural to take it but…
The figure taking off the ring without any hesitation was the figure of a pure
outlaw who didn't possess the very concept of compassion or sympathy
itself. Furthermore, that figure said "Does this guy has anything else on
him" while rustling the black clothes around. Like a vulture.
The doubtful gazes of the parents and the wive~s were becoming
reproachful eyes that made even Yue turned pale.
Hajime and Yue turned their gaze to the beyond with harmonized
movement.
But, Shuu grinned widely and clasped his hand on Hajime's shoulder. And
then, he spoke with a voice that was scarily lacking in intonation.
"Hajime. Do you know what is Tou-san thinking right now?"
"E, e~rr… Tou-san, you know, though not much, I at least made a proper
grave."
"I see. Then I want to offer prayer in front of the grave, so show me the
place after this."
"Ro, roger. Then right away――"
Hajime immediately tried to turn around to gloss over the matter, but he
didn't manage it. His opposite shoulder also got clasped by a hand. Whose
hand? Sumire's.
"Hajime? Don't you have anything to say to Okaa-san and Otou-san I
wonder?"
"Anything, to say?"
The smile of Sumire-okaasan became really deep. Hajime thought, "Ah,
this, it's that thing huh".
That hunch was right on the money! Right after that, the eyes of Nagumo
married couple slanted upward with great momentum.
"Don't treat the dead rudely-, this stupid son!"
"That person wasn't your enemy or anything right! Far from that he was
someone who gave you important gift! This idiot son!"
Indeed, it was completely as they said. *Bam-*, Hajime-san received
clenched fists on his head.
It was absurd to expect such emotion and common sense from Hajime of
that time, there were various excuses he could make.
Although, now that he was harboring a definite respect toward Miledy and
others the liberators, looking back at his action then, even he himself was
thinking that perhaps it was a bit unforgivable…
Because of that,
"So, sorry"
He honestly showed remorse.
"Go, Goshujin-sama art apologizing!? A dream! This art a nightmare! Shia!
Help me to wake up!"
"Leave it to me! Shaoraaa-!!"
Thunderous sound.
A full swing of the war hammer. A silhouette flew into the wall and went
through it. And then, the voice of happiness saying "Thank you very
much!" with echo.
Shuu and Sumire turned their gaze to Yue as though nothing had happened.
"Yue-chan too! Your generally cold reception toward non family, well we
don't mind it but, an act that is blaspheming the dead, Okaa-san cannot
admire that at all!"
"…Ye, yes. I'm sorry."
"Well, considering the situation at that time it might be understandable
but… treating the dead as fertilizer even though he didn't do anything bad
to you, I don't think Otou-san can overlook that."
"…Ye, yes, Otou-sama. When I myself watched that scene anew, I think
that perhaps it's a bit unforgivable."
'I'm really reflecting… ' Yue-sama was downhearted. 'Otou-sama and
Okaa-sama scolded me… ' She was seriously depressed.
The demon king and his legal wife who achieved being the world's
strongest for real were reflecting. It was an extremely miraculous situation.
If the people of Tortus saw this sight, they would go crazy or faint, or
perhaps they would revere and worship the two parents similar like the
mother of a certain goddess of bountiful harvest, no doubt about it.
There was nothing that was representing Oscar on the chair inside the room
but…
Hajime and Yue somehow got the feeling that he was laughing wryly at
them.
After that, they offered prayer in front of Oscar's grave, pulled out the
dragon woman who was stuck on the field, and then the group activated the
past playback everywhere in the hideout while getting a glimpse of Hajime
and Yue's life at that time.
It was truly a sugary livelihood where they could only be called as
newlywed spouses.
Extremely high sugar content. The scenes that would undoubtedly give
anyone sugar diabetes in one shot made Kaori's tongue clicking to generate
like machine gun.
And then, Yue was looking smug even while feeling embarrassed. A flash
of silver grazed her cheek.
"U~n…"
"? What's the matter?"
Shizuku looked like she wasn't convinced somewhat. Aiko tilted her head
and asked her.
"How should I say it… some footage flew in here and there unnaturally…
somehow it's like I'm looking at an edited recording…"
"Ah, certainly, there is that kind of feeling."
It seemed it wasn't just Shizuku who was feeling that something wasn't
right. Aiko also clapped her hands in agreement.
There, Sumire pointed at a door deeper inside the room and raised a
questioning voice.
"Hey, Hajime. We haven't go there. What is behind that door?"
"Aa~, that place, it's that. The bathroom. It's connected to an open air
bath."
"My! That's great! So there is also bathing custom in another world! Or
perhaps is it the personal hobby of Oscar-san?"
Saying that, Sumire turned her step toward the bathroom energetically.
Hajime spoke toward his mother who was like that.
"It goes without saying but, we won't activate the past replay there."
"I get it. There is also Yue-chan here, there is no way I'll be so sad that I'm
going to intentionally watch my son being stark naked."
There was one reaction to Sumire's words. However, everyone entered
inside the bathroom while no one was noticing it.
"Ho~, it's a splendid bathroom!"
"There is like a waterfall coming ahead of our gaze… it looks like Oscarsan was also talented when it come to architecture design."
Shuu and Tomoichi were in admiration. Hajime poured his magic power to
activate the Merlion hot spring version to show how the hot water came out
from it.
But, at that instant,
"Aaa, my hand slipped~" (monotone)
Kaori-san, it seemed her hand slipped and activated the past replay.
What would slip inside a bathroom should be the foot, and even if the hand
slipped why would the age of god magic got activated? But putting aside
those questions, what got projected by the careless magic activation was the
figure of Hajime relaxing in the hot spring at night.
"My, nice body."
"!?"
"…Oh my"
"!?"
By the way, the top was Kirino, and it was Koichi who turned toward her in
a flash. The bottom was Akiko, and it was Aiko who turned toward her in a
flash.
"Hey-, Kaori! What do you mean your hand slipped! Dispel it right away!"
"…"
"Don't stare hard at it like that! It's nothing you hadn't seen before! Aah
geez, you aren't listening huh. Shizuku! Hold down that secretly perverted
childhood friend of yours right away… wait, why even you are staring hard
at it like that huh!"
Hajime lightly slapped Kaori's cheek *pechi pechi* to return her to her
senses while demanding her to dispel the magic once more.
"Come on return to your senses, hidden pervert meister!"
"I'm not a hidden pervert or a meister!"
"Who cares about that, just dispel it right away."
"E, err, it feels a bit difficult! It's because my hand slipped! My hand keeps
slipping!"
"What do you mean your hand keep slipping!?"
"Like this, like a bobsleigh!"
"Bobsleigh!?"
While the meister and Hajime were doing their comedy skit, the situation
that Hajime feared finally arrived.
"Yue! Hide it!"
"…Nn-"
The one who finally came was the past Yue. She immediately projected a
swimsuit illusion above her past projection. The eyes of the male faction
got protected just in the nick of time.
"Kaori"
"Uh, I'm sorry."
Hajime was oozing out cold sweat at the accident that almost happened
while sending Kaori a reproachful gaze. Kaori too reflected on herself that
she was messing around too much while dispelling the magic.
But, for some reason the projection didn't vanish. Inside the projection,
Yue-sama who was scattering around a bewitching atmosphere in full blast
for some reason was standing before Hajime.
'Why didn't itt vanish!?' Hajime's expression was flustered, however, he
immediately discovered the magic power stream using his magic eye stone.
The culprit, was the hopeless dragon.
"SHIAAA!"
"Ah, yes! SHAORAAA-!!"
"Thank you very much-"
The hopeless dragon vanished into the other side of the waterfall.
But, it seemed the projection cut off too late.
――'I'm getting out!'
――'You won't escape!'
――'Wai-, wait, ah, AAA——!!'
There, the projection dispersed as though something precious had scattered.
*Shii~n*, a really awkward silence was flowing.
There, Yue's cheeks flared up bright red while she reported once more.
"…Nn. Otou-sama, Okaa-sama. Let me apologize beforehand. It was
delicious. Thank you for the meal."
"Ah, yes, sorry that we can only prepare such meager meal?"
"No, Sumire, I think that's not the right thing to say."
The awkward atmosphere became even more awkward. Shia and others
were showing complicated expression that felt like saying "Aa~, it was this
timing…".
"Papa~. What delicious thing Yue-oneechan was eating nano?"
"…Ask Remia about it later."
"!?"
The question of a child that was troubling parents was completely thrown
toward the mother by Hajime-san. His life gauge was at the red zone.
"I, I see. The past projection that looks edited is because something like
this."
"…The projection got really heavily edited."
That was how many daily scenes that were in the category of "We cannot
show it okay!'. The blushing Shizuku and Aiko were restlessly looking
around with indescribable expression.
Kaoruko and Kirino said "Aa~, to be young". They felt awkward, but they
also gave a slight teasing atmosphere. On the contrary, the atmosphere of
Shuuzou and Koichi felt half awkward and half lukewarm.
And then, Tomoichi was,
"Tsk-tsk-tsk-tsk-tsk-tsk-tsk-tsk-tsk-tsk-"
"Ka, Kaori…"
His expression was shuddering in respond to his daughters gatling tongue
clicking that came from her grand self-destruction due to replaying the past
as he pleased because of curiosity.
"…It will be, lunch time soon, let's eat."
"…Nn-"
Yue was still bashful and fidgeting. Hajime had a distant look while
announcing the end of the morning part of Orcus tour in order to change the
atmosphere somehow.
Hajime and co easily returned to the royal palace using a gate. A long time
had passed without them noticing while they were doing the Orcus tour.
The time had gone long past noon.
Perhaps because they were shown various things, they forgot about their
empty stomach. But now their empty stomach abruptly began to declare
their existence. Hajime and co took lunch that was prepared by Hellina
along with Liliana who almost cried because she got left behind while
doing her work in desperation.
They had fun talking about various memories, which caused Liliana's teary
eyes to become increasingly sullen.
At the same time, she was also showing a superhuman technique of
listening to Kaori's complaining "Hey, listen to me Lily! That stupid Yue!
That stupid Yue! She was an erorist-san! Hey, are you listening? Lily!"
that was like a machine gun while acting sullen while she was doing her
work and also calming Kaori down at the same time, furthermore she was
doing it while eating with a beautiful table manner.
Hajime slightly consoled such Liliana while the group finished their lunch.
"I never thought, that I would be left behind for real…"
"No, my bad Lily. But you see, the power of Hellina's gaze was terrific. It
told me [There is, work. Taking, princess away, absolutely no good
(monotone)]."
"What's with the halting language. Or rather! I – a – mm! The princess!
Hellina, is the maid! Why does Hellina get prioritized!"
"…Haha-"
"Why are you laughing!?"
Hajime looked aside with a face that seemed to say 'The after meal tea, is
delicious~'. Liliana glared at him with a resentful expression. Though she
got teary eyes so that expression not only lacked impact, rather it looked
cute.
Liliana directed a tearful glare to the culprit who was her exclusive maid.
Hellina bowed respectfully.
"My deepest apologies, Liliana-sama. However, in order to accompany the
trip of Lord――cough-, Hajime-sama's trip starting from tomorrow, it is
also necessary to finish within today all matters for the next couple of days
that needs Liliana-sama's decision."
"Pe, perhaps that's so but… no wait, just now, didn't you say lord just
now? You just referred to Hajime-san as your master didn't you!? Hey,
Hellina!?"
"Today the destination is Orcus Great Labyrinth. This Hellina know what is
inside Liliana-sama's heart so well it's painful, but I believe the place
Liliana-sama should accompany them to should be the imperial capital that
will be the destination starting from tomorrow."
"Uu… I cannot deny that… but, I want to know about Hajime-san's past in
the great labyrinth… also, you casually ignored my question didn't you?"
"If Liliana-sama wish it, it will come true someday. The thing that has to be
done right now should be done right now. I will sort out the work that can
be postponed for later. If Liliana-sama's work get delayed, the lord surely
will also feel worried for you."
"…You're right. I understand, Hellina. Also, now you aren't even hiding
how you are calling him lord anymore. Please come to my room for a bit
later. I will teach you once more who is your master!"
Hellina bowed respectfully. Shuu turned his gaze toward Hajime while
feeling a bit concerned about the crisis the relationship of the master and
servant.
"So Hajime. What are we going to do in the afternoon?"
"For the time being I'm thinking of going to Raisen Grand Canyon."
"That's where the encounter with me happen isn't it!"
The rabbit ears moved *myon myon*. Shia looked really happy.
But, Kaori put a halt on that.
"Shia, sorry. I want to go to Orcus one more time before we go to Raisen
Grand Canyon. Is it okay?"
"Hoe? I don't mind that but, is there still anything else to see there?"
They would use up the majority of their schedule here if they were also
going to watch the minor detail. Shia tilted her rabbit ears, thinking that
they should have seen all that should be seen.
"You see, the time when we reunited… I want Otou-san and everyone else
to watch it."
'I see', Shia nodded.
In this trip, it felt like Tomoichi and Hajime had closed the distance
between them by quite much, but as expected, Tomoichi was still holding a
strong reluctance toward Hajime. That was why Kaori wanted to show her
father the time when she was rescued.
"Yeah, I also want to see that no matter what."
Shizuku too seemed to recall something about that time. She glanced to
Hajime while blushing slightly.
Hajime turned expressionless just for a moment from receiving that glance.
But, that too really only happened for an instant.
"…I guess. The time after we came out from Raisen Grand Canyon would
also be fine but… there was also that scene huh."
"…Hajime. It's alright."
Beside him Yue sharply noticed. She said "it's alright" not with a
questioning tone, but with a tone that was filled with conviction. Hajime
looked fondly at Yue in respond and caressed her cheek. As though to say
"I'm fine".
Hajime smiled wryly at Shuu and others who were tilting their head in
puzzlement while gulping down his tea all at once. Then he announced their
departure for the afternoon part of Orcus tour.
While getting seen off by the princess who had bloodshot eyes as though to
say 'Even if it killed me I'm gonna finish all the pressing work for these
few days within today for suree~', Hajime and co returned to Orcus Great
Labyrinth.
Their destination was the surface level of Orcus Great Labyrinth――the
floor 89.
Kaori's gaze slightly wandered off to empty air as though to look back to
that time while she started talking.
"At that time, we advanced until the next floor, the floor 90."
"I think it was around four months since Hajime fell into abyss."
Shizuku added.
The place they arrived at while giving that explanation was the place where
Kaori and co once fell into a desperate situation in the past. They were at a
spacious space with octagon shape located in floor 89.
There was a large hole still gaping open at the ceiling and wall. At the
ceiling was the trace where Hajime smashed through using pile buker. The
tunnel at the wall was the improvised hideout where Kaori and others
escaped for dear life while carrying the wounded.
There was a regenerating function for the stone bridge at floor 65 that was a
destination for a trap, but the majority of Orcus Great Dungeon's surface
level didn't have regenerating function. And so, the trace of battle from that
time was remaining clearly.
Kaori performed the past replay. The time axis was seemed to be when they
escaped from floor 90 into this room.
With Kouki in the lead, the pale looking hero party, Nagayama party, and
Hiyama party showed up from the passage deeper inside. After having
some words, Nomura Kentarou who possessed the vocation earth mage
started opening a hole in the wall.
"We were ambushed at floor 90. By a demon race woman and a lot of
monsters. All of the monsters were unthinkably strong."
"Two of us were petrified, Suzu was also heavily wounded. The mental
shock and the exhaustion from going through losing battle, where, it's just
as you can see there."
Hajime and Yue and the others also didn't know about the detailed timing
when the demon race woman――Cattleya attacked. And so, they were
watching with great interest at Kaori and the classmates who were escaping
into the improvised hideout at that time.
Then, ahead of where Hajime and co were watching, Nomura and others
were starting to talk to each other. And then, they were staring still without
any word at one of the four passages inside the room.
"? What are they doing?… Hah!? Kaori, replay the scene just now for a
bit!"
"Eh? Okay but…"
Kaori rewound the scene slightly. And then she resumed the scene.
This time she noticed. A black silhouette was soundlessly vanishing into the
passage.
"It's Endou! Endou is there!"
"…Nn-, as expected from Endou! He couldn't be noticed just with a single
playback!"
"Endou-san is really absurd isn't he. As expected from the man who could
travel through the dungeon without getting noticed by the monsters even
once desuu! That thinness of shadow cannot be copied!"
"Umu. It's truly a mystery. Even the projection of past replay inadvertently
failed to notice him… even within the long history of the dragon race,
someone with shadow that thin art the first time."
"Endou-kun… I'm sorry that I always forgot to call your name when taking
absence in the class! Sensei cannot forget Endou-kun's despairing
expression when you got told [Your number of attendance days is lacking]
by the first year's head teacher!"
A wailing resounded from earth… it felt like that.
By the way, Endou-kun had perfect attendance. He had never even arrived
late.
Anyway, all the parent~s thought of Kousuke and his parents and cried.
"E~rr, Kaori? Why did he go off alone?"
"E, e~rr you see, Endou-kun he, how should I say it, his presence, should I
say that it is weak, anyway he is a person with constitution that is hard to
notice. It's to the level that even monster will completely ignore him even
though he is right before them."
"…Such human exist for real?"
"…He really exist. I think that it's mysterious though. It's not a skill or
magic. It's a constitution that he has since before we were summoned."
"Even earth was relatively filled with fantasy huh. Otou-san didn't
know…"
Anyway, thanks to the man who was nonchalantly within the category of
mankind's strongest and could escape from the dungeon to the surface just
by himself, the reinforcement that was Hajime made it in time. The parents
were given that explanation.
Tomoichi and others understood that he too was one of the benefactor of
their daughters' lives. They asked to rewind the projection slightly and
expressed their gratitude.
They couldn't find him just like how hard it was to find Wall○ though.
'Eh? The projection has been rewound, so he should be right in front of us
shouldn't it? Where?' While thinking that.
'Find Endou!' After spending a bit of time for that, the past projection
displayed the attack of the monsters that were led by Cattleya.
The entrance of the hideout that was camouflaged was blown away. Kouki
resolved himself and rushed out.
From there the situation developed quickly.
The hero's power that used Limit Break was absurd, however, Cattleya used
Meld as hostage and sealed it.
Unable to retreat or fight, Kouki was defeated against a monster called
Ahatd that was in a different level from other monsters. Cattleya offered a
deal which was responded by Shizuku with a grave expression.
Shizuku desperately string together her words in order to find a path of
survival somehow. Then, Meld who recovered his consciousness put his life
on the line for the last struggle――he tried to explode himself.
"So he is Meld Logins-dono."
"I see… he is a magnificent warrior."
Shuuzou and Koichi who were staring so hard at Shizuku's figure they
could open a hole with their gaze saw Meld who got mentioned in the talk
at the palace and raised voice of admiration.
But, right after that, even Meld's determination for death was sealed and
ended in futility. He received a fatal wound and tumbled down on the
ground. Seeing that, the expression of Shuuzou and others warped in grief.
The one who snapped seeing that was Kouki. Inside the projection, he
displayed an astounding strength and cornered Cattleya once.
But, the matter couldn't be resolved that easily. At the eleventh hour he
finally noticed that "he was turning his sword toward a person" and Kouki's
sword turned dull. Regarding the matter of killing a living being, not to
mention having the resolve for that, Kouki didn't even have the selfawareness of it. Cattleya laughed at that.
Like that the table was turned.
In the place of their trump card Kouki who became unable to fight, it was
Shizuku who stood at the front line.
Although it was the period of time where she was unskilled compared to the
present, her speed and sword skill were astonishing. Seeing their daughter
in a genuinely desperate battle in another world, Shuuzou tightened his lips
forming a thin line, while Koichi was clenching his fist hard.
And then, Kirino quietly grasped Shizuku's hand.
Right after that, Kirino's hand grasped so strongly that Shizuku felt pain.
――'Shizuku-chan!'
The scream of Kaori. Shizuku too also suffered defeat. She was literally
vomiting blood and crouched down. As a mother, it was undoubtedly a
sight that Kirino couldn't endure to watch.
"Ah, Kaori!"
"Kaori!"
The two who unconsciously yelled were Tomichi and Kaoruko. Ahead of
the two's gaze, Kaori recklessly rushed out alone by herself from the party's
formation that crowded to each other in order to protect themselves.
――'Ka, Kaori… what are you doing… go back quickly. You mustn't stay
here'
――'No. It's the same anywhere. If that's the case, then it's better to be at
Shizuku-chan's side'
――'… I'm sorry. I couldn't win'
――'It's me who should apologize, for being unable to do anything than
this. My magic power is nearly spent'
It was like their last words. No, those were truly their last words.
They were helpless. It was a complete checkmate.
Ahadt approached as though to engrave that on their body.
The parents trembled seeing the sight that had gone past being urgent and
could even be said as despairing…
"It's here! Otou-san Okaa-san! Everyone pay attention! Here! Here!"
Kaori-san was greatly excited for some reason. Her fingers pointed out
straight and asked for attention.
"…Kaori. That's, don't copy… my act before this."
"Silence! It will be an important scene after this! After all it is Hajime-kun
and my, yes, Ha – ji – me – kun – and – my! Scene of reunion!"
"…Nn-, you don't need to emphasize! Stupid Kaori!"
'Or rather, Kaori, you remember most of Yue's speech huh… ', a lukewarm
atmosphere flowed among them. At the projection Kaori and Shizuku were
snuggling on each other where they were just a step before death, but the
tension was completely dispersed.
Then, the next instant the ceiling burst. A giant stake with crimson spark
running on it pierced Ahadt along with the despair and pulverized them.
From the smashed ceiling, Hajime descended and landed lightly.
His back was turned toward Kaori and Shizuku as though to protect them,
and he looked toward them across his shoulder.
――'You two are really close like usual huh'
Hajime smiled wryly while saying that to the dumbfounded duo.
Instantly.
"KYAAAAAAAAAAH♪ HAJIME-KU~~~N!!"
"…Kaori, noisy!"
Kaori grabbed Yue's shoulders and shook her back and forth while raising a
shrill scream like a big fan accidentally encountering a celebrity.
It seemed she didn't even hear Yue's protest. Yue was already in a jostled
state. Her reproachful gaze was rapidly evolving to become a super
reproachful gaze.
"Otou-san Otou-san! See see!? It's moving right!? That's Hajime-kun see!
And then, the one getting protected there, is me! Kufuu!"
"Ah, right, I'm watching. I, it's really moving"
'If only Kaori doesn't act so high spirited a bit creepily like this.' Tomoichiotousan added inside his heart. Kaoruko put her hand on her forehead and
her expression turned as though she was watching a troubling child.
And then, the Hajime-kun in question was covering his face with his hands.
If there was a hole he would want to enter inside.
On the other hand, the other involved person which was Shizuku was
"…"
She was staring at the paused projection of past Hajime's face from the side
with a somewhat dazed expression *pohee~*.
"She fell in love."
"So she fell in love here."
"I see now."
"!?"
The words of Kirino, Koichi, and Shuuzou caused Shizuku to twitch. She
wouldn't deny that at this late hour, but just in case she mumbled "At this
time, it's not like, I have self-awareness of it or anything…" with a small
voice.
Gentle gazes showered down on her. Unable to stand it, she wrapped her
ponytail around her face. Ponytail guard activate. Don't look at me!
Kaori who was in a good mood hugged Yue's head from behind and she
nuzzled it in delight while saying.
"Theeen, I'll put the scene in the loooop~"
"…Bakaori, don't get carried away." (TN: Baka + Kaori = Bakaori)
Yue lightly slapped *pechi pechi* the cheek of Kaori who was hugging her
while she was going to forcefully end the past projection.
"Yue, my bad but keep the projection playing."
"…Nn"
Yue obeyed Hajime's words and forcefully advanced the past projection
ahead. Kaori was annoying, so she reflexively wanted to end the scene.
Due to a curbstomp fight that would put off any ordinary person watching
it, the powerful monsters were easily turned into mince meat. Just in case,
faint mosaic were applied to the image by Yue's miraculous feat so the
scene was kind to the eye compared to the reality.
Like that, that time finally arrived.
A single dry gunshot sound. It resounded excessively loudly.
Shuu and others didn't speak any word. They couldn't say anything. It was
like there was a solid lock closing the box where their words were stored.
Fresh blood danced within their sight.
――'Why, why did you kill her. Is there any need to kill… '
Kouki's words echoed.
"If you are watching then you can understand, the demon race is
undoubtedly "person". What was done just now, was without a doubt a
"murder"."
Shuu and Sumire silently looked back to Hajime who said that. Tomoichi
and other parents covered their mouth and went pale.
Shuu walked toward Hajime. And then, in opposite of the time when
Hajime carelessly treated the corpse of Oscar before this, he clasped his
shoulder gently. He massaged the shoulder as though to loosen something
stiff.
"Thanks for showing us that."
Shuu only said that. He didn't say anything else.
Sumire was also the same. She only stroke Hajime's hair messily, then she
only silently watched the continuation of the past image.
Things that should be asked had been wholly asked that time when Hajime
returned home to them. What they wanted to say had also been wholly
expressed in words.
There was nothing that they wanted to discuss once more, to say nothing of
wanting to admonish Hajime or anything. They simply wanted to watch his
experience with their own eyes. That was all.
Hajime didn't understand what should he call the deep emotion dwelling
within Shuu and Sumire's eyes. However, somehow, he thought that the
emotion resembled ocean.
While Yue and others were watching over them, Tomoichi and other parents
snuggled close to Kaori and Shizuku, and then Aiko too.
Within the projection, Kaori was being shocked by Hajime's complete
change, even so she said her gratitude that he was alive.
"Otou-san, I was only lucky."
"…I see. No, you're right."
Tomoichi looked at Hajime. With Japanese people's sensitivity, no, with a
human's sensitivity, the act that occurred before their eyes where something
that was hard to accept right away.
However, Tomoichi, and also Kaoruko and the other parents too were
certainly feeling emotion that couldn't be measured with just ordinary
common sense or ethics.
"Shizuku. You had done your best. You did great surviving."
"Otou-san…"
"You fought well in order to protect your friend. I'm proud of you."
"Ojii-chan."
Koichi and Shuuzou naturally noticed. Shizuku was scared at the bottom of
her heart, however she faced Cattleya with a definite killing intent.
Both of them caressed Shizuku's head with clumsy hand manner. Shizuku
wanted to cry slightly but then Kirino gently hugged her.
Like that, Tomoichi and others faced back toward Hajime and spoke out
their thanks once more. Their words were short, but their words were filled
with the deepest emotion until now.
The projection ended and silence returned.
For a while, everyone were entrusting their body and heart to the silence in
order to sort out their heart.
Before long, unexpectedly it was Tomoichi who breached the silence
perhaps in order to return the atmosphere to normal.
"Even so, when I imagine that my Kaori will get turned down after this…
yep, I want to punch Hajime-kun flying until the end of the earth once
more."
"Shouldn't that feeling be past its expiration date soon?"
"There is no expiration date to the feeling of a father who is thinking of his
daughter you know, Hajime-kun."
The atmosphere of the place softened just as planned from that
conversation.
After that, Hajime and co looked around at the happening in Orcus for a bit
more. Somehow it felt unfitting to come out from here and then go right
away to a new destination and had fun there.
Within their chest there were complicated emotions that were transparent,
complicated, clear but heavy, such contradicting emotions were jumbled
within them. They wanted to keep hold to those feelings for a bit more.
And so, the group visited the sealing room once more with an atmosphere
like taking a walk. It was Hajime's idea.
What he showed them there was the event before the legendary decisive
battle.
――'Let's take her back, without fail'
――'Yeah. We'll take her back, without fail'
Kaori and Hajime were talking about their memory of Yue, and then they
showed a determination that was like blazing flame.
Yue writhed while leaking out strange voice "Nfuu". Kaori blushed for
some reason while also incomprehensibly acting tsundere saying "I, it's
not like I like Yue or anything, I'm telling you there is no way it's like
that!".
They also replayed past projection in Oscar's hideout once more, showing
the time axis before the legendary decisive battle.
――'I wish for my life and death to be together with Yue-san'
Shia's resolve was displayed to Hajime. In order to take away the option of
letting only her survive. If they were unable to save Yue, then she would
rather die together with Hajime, so she wished.
'Obviously, rather I won't let you get away', Hajime responded with a
smile.
Yue leaked out a voice "Nuwaa" as though she was in the verge of death.
Shia blushed and said "Do, don't misunderstand, I simply super love Yuesan!" , inflicting a straight punch directly on Yue. Yue died in agony. She
automatically revived though.
Through various things like that, everyone's feeling recovered their calm.
Around that time.
"Now then, let's continue the trip."
Hajime ordered that with a gentle voice. Gentle voices of agreement
resounded.
Like that the group headed to their next trip destination――the Raisen
Grand Canyon while looking forward to the encounter with a hopeless
rabbit.